great a Weight upon this Duty as if it were the one thing the only thing nâ—…cessary Phil. i. 27. only let your Conversation be as it becomâ—…th the Gospel of Christ. And there are two subservient Duties which will much contribute to this great Design 1. The former is Stability stedfastness in the Faith that yâ—… stand fast in the Spirit 2. The other a Holy Zeal that ye strive together for the Faith of the Gospel Stand fast without wavering be zealous without cooling and let your Interest and the Name and Glory of your Redeemer be much upon your Hearts in both these Whatever can be said upon this Subject is compendiously summ'd up in that other place of the same Apostle which I will give you a brief Paraphrase upon and then proceed Phil. iv 8 9. Finally brethren whatsoâ—…ver things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoevâ—…r things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be anâ—… virtue if there be any praise think on these things Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you This is the abstract of what I can speak or you hear upon this Subject Think on these things and do them Digest the matter well in your Thoughts concoct it throughly in your Hearts and then reduce all to Practice 'T is not Speculation but Action that must recover the Repure of Religion and the particulars wherein you must be active and zealous are such as these 1. Whatsoever things are true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Power of Truth in the Heart evidence it self in the Life and the Grace of God in the inward Parts shine through the Body in all suitable demeanor It is Theodoret's Gloss upon 1 Tim. iii. 2. The Apostle says he would have a Bishop to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That his whoâ—… carriage be such so comâ—…ly in his 〈◊〉 in his habit in his looks and gesturâ—…s that the Complexion of his Soul may shine through the Case of his Body 2. Whatsoever things are honest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That we be grave yet not morose serious yet not austere reserved without affectation that as the End of our Conversation is a matter of the greatest Importance and the Rule of our Lives of equal Concern so the Meen and Air of our behaviour may bear some good Conformity to them both 3. Whatsoever things are just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As we must be Holy towards God so must we also be just towards all Men for Righteousness is Evangelium visibile 'T is the preaching of a Gospel which Men understand our Religion teaches us to give to God and Man what is their due and all the World will conclude that if we defraud them we would if it were in our Power cheat our God too nor can we ever confute those Suspicions which Men will easily entertain of our Hypocrisy but by an exact and punctual discharge of all those Offices of Justice which we owe to them 4. Whatsoever things are pure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chast modest pure clean that our Discourses savour not of Filthiness our Behaviour do not smell rank of inward Turpitude that we admit not the Flesh to mingle it self with our Courses or Discourses but that in all things our Speech be seasoned with Salt Administring grace unto the hearers Ephes. iv 29. 'T is a dirty World we walk in he that will walk clean must pick and chuse his way with great Care and Conscience 5. Whatsoever things are lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let a Spirit of Candour and holy Ingenuity breath in all our Actions that we affright not Men from Religion by a sour disobliging way of Converse There is a mean could we hit it between a base creeping fawning prostitution of our selves to the Lusts of Men and a haughty surly Arrogancy which will not stoop or bend to the benefit of Men and this mean is that generosum honestum that greatness of humility which would persuade the prejudiced World to entertain more tolerable Thoughts of God's holy Ways and perhaps in time to try and practise them 6. Whatsoever things are of good report 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To decline those Practices which carry an Appearance of evil with really good Men. Now says the Apostle If there be any virtue If ever your Religion had any commanding Interest in you or has had any sanctifying power upon you And if there be any praise If you expect the acceptation and approbation of God or the moderate commendation of good Men Then think upon and do these things and for your encouragement The God of Peace shall be with you In the managing of this Doctrine I will propose this Method 1. To shew what the Adorning of the Doctrine of the Gospel does presuppose 2. What it is to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel in all things 3. What are the particulars of the Doctrine which we must Adorn and how it may be Adorned in each of these Particulars 4. I will lay down the Arguments which ought to prevail with us herein 5. And lastly I will endeavour to improve the whole Discourse and reduce it to Practice § 1. Let us inquire what the Exhortation to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel does presuppose There was something more than ordinary in the matter that the Apostle so earnestly and frequently presseth this one Point Some Injury had been offered from which it needed to be vindicated something amiss in their Conversation that needed Reformation and we have cause to fear that the Case is our own Some notable Affront has been put upon the Gospel some indignity offered to the Profession of Religion which will render our present Discourse too pertinent That which is presupposed may be reduced to these Heads 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ considered in it self is a most beauteous and lovely Doctrine 2. That this Doctrine has been miserably blackened and blemished by those that should have given it a better treatment 3. That whoever professeth this Doctrine is obliged to wash off that dirt and filth which has been cast upon it 1. That we are so earnestly urged to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour presupposeth that as it came first out of the Hands of Christ it was altogether lovely representing the sweetness and expressing the holiness of him that gave it forth And 1. One eminent Beauty of the Doctrine is this That those Truths which soar the highest in Speculation yet in their design and tendency aim at a holy practical Conversation Those which in the Theory reach the highest Heavens yet in their Scope stoop down to the Earth It was said of Socrates Primus Philosophiam è Nubibus in Terras deduxit He was the first that brought down Philosophy from the Clouds and made it an useful thing to Humane Life It was
God adorn themselves § 7. When the favourable Providence of God shall exalt thee forget not whence thou hast been raised Forget not those thou hast left behind thee forget not thy self forget not thy God It has brought much Reproach upon Religion that many Professors change their Tempers with their outward Circumstances and when they have got more Sail they throw away their Ballast such was Jeshurun Deut. xxxii 15. Who when he waxed fat kick'd forsook the Lord lightly esteemed and was unmindful of the rock of his salvation § 8. Lastly Maintain a high and noble Faith in a low Estate This is convincing to Men that there is something real and solid in the Doctrine of the Gospel when tho' the Fig-tree blossom not tho' there be not fruit in the Vine tho' the labour of the Olive fail and the Fields yield no increase yet can rejoyce in the Lord and triumph in the God of their salvation Hab. iii. 17 18. 2. I come now to speak of the Promises These testify what we may expect from God and upon this Head I will open two Things 1. I will briefly open the Nature of the Promises 2. I will shew from thence what Conversation will adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel as 't is contain'd in the Promises § 1. For the brief opening the Nature of the Promises A Promise may be described thus A Testimony which God has given of himself through Christ to secure our Faith in whatever we may expect from him as a Precept testifies what God expects from us so a Promise testifies what we mav expect from him And this is the Glory of the New Covenant that what we expect from God enables us to perform what he expects from us 'T is in the Strength of the Promise that we are enabled to obey the Precept 'T is another Excellency of this Covenant that Divine Mercy has annext the Promise to the Precept and so we are not left to a Naked Law The same Apostle who complains 2 Cor. iii 5. Of an insufficiency to think any thing of himself can yet boast that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him Phil. iv 13. Nothing in himself All things in Christ. The Command creates our Duty but the Promise affords Strength for Obedience Again according to the extent of the Promises must be the extent of our Expectation What length God has gone in Promising the same length may we go in Praying Believing Hoping As the Precepts are the Bounds of our Duty and all that we can pretend beyond them is superstitious Folly so the Promises are the limits of our Faith and to expect beyond them is Presumption Further we cannot justly complain that we are narrowed and restrained in the wideness of the Promises for they are adequate to the spiritual Necessities of all his Children in all Ages The Oyl in the Cruise will run while there is a Vessel to receive it our God has to give while we can find a Heart to pray and receive Mercy and Grace will never fail while there is room to receive it 'T was on this Consideration that the Psalmist weighing the indigency of his Soul and the exigency of his Condition was well willing to accept the Promises for his Supply and Treasure Psal. cxix III. Thy testimonies have I taken for an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart So many Promises so many Testimonies what God will do for his Children what he will bestow on them and what they may expect from him Now David we see could securely take God's single Security nor required any to be bound with him for performance What Security God gave that he takes with the Hand with the Arms of Faith as those antient Worthies Heb. xi 13. Who died in the faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuâ—…ded of them and emâ—…raced them For whereas there are two things in the Promises the Goodnâ—…ss contained in them and the Truth that confirms them Those Eminent Saints received the Truth tho' God kept the Goodness still in his own Hands And thus the Psalmist accepted God's Testimonies for good Payment tho' the Grace Mercy Glory wrapt up in them were chiefly of things future distant and invisible And these he took for an heritage he blesses himself and rejoices that the lines were fallen unto him in pleasant places and that he had a goodly heritage Psal. xvi 6. Give him but a clear Interest in them and he is content that the Men of the World whose Portion lies there should divide the World amongst them For thâ—…y are the rejoycing of his heart They are Light in Darkness Comfort in Trouble Advice in Streights Ease in Pain Supply in Want Health in Sickness Life in Death But that I may more fully and distinctly give you the Theory of these exceeding great and precious Promises there are Two things in them which shall be more particularly considered The fulnâ—…ss and faithfulness of the Promises 1. First The fulnâ—…ss of the Promisâ—…s They contain whatsoever the Soul upon Spiritual Accounts can possibly need They are commensurate to the Necessities of the Saints in all Cases the Promise made to Abraham Gen. xvii 7. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee to be a God to thee has been frequently exemplified in afâ—…r-times 2 Cor. vi 16. I will be their God And it includes all that God can promise all that the Soul can ask or receive And as it 's great folly to sit down with any promise of God that is short of himself so 't is as great a folly to aspire after any thing beyond him As a little piece of Gold may be beaten out to a great breadth draw out to an incredible length yet still it 's but the same Gold for Weight and Substance tho' it will be more for use so may this comprehensive Promise be drawn out into infinite Particulars but still all of them are but this one I will be thy God The Almighty God will be thy Strength the All-Wise God thy Conduct the Everliving God thy Life But if we desire more explicite Satisfaction God has given it 1 Tim. iv 8. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and thaâ—… which is to come Will this World will the other World will both Worlds satisfy you Will Time and Eternity content you This Word testifies what you may expect from the Promise 2. Secondly Look now upon the faithfulness of God in the Promises concerning which I recommend these things to your Observation 1. That God's faithfulness in the Promise is God himself cloathing himself with the Attribute that our Faith may more easily take hold on him and more securely rely on him God is full and faithful he is fulness and faithfulness And because God seems to value himself especially upon this Attribute Psal. cxxxviii 2. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name And that whatever fails
Families be Profane This one thing further Brethren I have to beg of you or rather of God for you that you may most zealously and unweariedly pursue the things that make for Truth Holiness and Peace and never to divide those things which God has joyned together and God even our God shall give you his Blessing This is the unfeigned Desire and shall ever be the fervent Prayer of him who is and shall endeavour to approve himself to God to his own Conscience and to yours Feb. 25. 1695 6. The faithful Servant of your Souls through Christ Vin. Alsop The Reader is desired to Correct these few Errors which notwithstanding all our Care have escaped the Press PAge 19. Line 27. for not read yet p. 112. line 16. for heart read hurt TITUS ii 10. That they may Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE Exhortation here given us is of far greater extent than the Occasion on which it was given The Occasion was narrow but the Equitable Construction is wide It was given immediately to Servants but it reaches their Masters None so low as to be beneath it none so high as to be above it The poorest Servant in his humble Capacity must demean himself with that Fidelity and Integrity that he may Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel The highest Prince in his exalted Orb must remember that he has a Lord and Master in Heaven In a word whatever Figure any one makes whatever Character he wears in whatever Relation he stands whatever Place he fills yet he comes within the compass of this Command to walk soberly righteously religiously that he may Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things The Christian Religion is a Piece of exact Symmetry a Face of excellent Beauty 'T is all glorious within and its cloathing is of wrought Gold Psal. xlv 13. But we must take up a most bitter Lamentation over it its Harmony has been disordered its Beauty blemished much filth thrown in its Face not only by the Reproach of declared Enemies but the unsuitable Conversations of those that profess it who value themselves highly upon it who pretend to have an Interest in it and their highest hopes and expectations from it In short it has been wounded in the house of its friends Zac. xiii 6. What Plato once said of Virtue may be more justly affirmed of the Gospel if it could be seen in its native and genuine Beauty Omnes in sui admirationem abriperet it would allure all Eyes ravish all Hearts draw all Mens Affections and raise it self a Throne in every Man's Conscience But here we must acknowledge with grief and shame that either we have got such feeble Conceptions of it in our own Souls or so miserably misrepresented it to others that we have rendred it cheap and unlovely and most wretchedly scandalized it before the Sons of Men. If therefore there be any who have already heard or shall hereaster read this mean but well-meaning Discourse whose pious Souls are grieved that this Holy Doctrine has been trampled in the mire by unhallowed Feet or whose Consciences have been toucht that they themselves have been the Cause of or given occasion to this Scandal unto such is the word of this Exhortation sent That they would conscientiously endeavour to retrieve the Credit to vindicate the Honour and in the Language of the Text to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things In which words you will easily observe Three Parts 1. The Great End which God has propounded to us and which we are to propound to our selves that in the whole Course of our Conversation we adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel 2. The Extent of this Exhortation In all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may refer to all the Parts of this holy Doctrine to adorn it in all the Precepts all the Promises all the holy Examples laid down therein or else it may refer to all the various Relations wherein we stand the various Conditions wherein the Providence of God may cast us that in all these we make it our Business to adorn this Doctrine to beautify this blessed Gospel 3. The Reason assign'd to inforce this Exhortation it is the Doctrine of God our Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our Saviour who is God It 's the Doctrine of our God who has Authority over us the Doctrine of our Saviour who should have the great commanding Interest in us and our greatest Concerns are wrapt up in it It 's the Doctrine of a Saviour and it 's a saving Doctrine and all the Reproach thrown upon this Doctrine falls upon Christ what falls upon Christ falls upon God and whatever Reproach flies so high as God will certainly fall down again with an overwhelming Vengeance upon the Head of him that throws it There 's little that will need Explication to clear our way to the Doctrine only two words may deserve some Consideration 1. Doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not be so critical to distinguish it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeing Suidas makes them Synonymous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These two words then are of adequate significations and both of them denote 1. Matter of Faith what we are to believe Or 2. Matter of Practice wherein we are to obey Thus where the Apostle Tit. 1. 9. amongst the other Characters of a Bishop requires this That he be able by sound Doctrine to exhort Occumâ—…nius thus glosses it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sound Doctrine is that which teacheth Orthodoxy and a regular Conversation 'T is that which makes a sound Head in opposition to Heresy and a sound Heart in opposition to Hypocrisy and both these will produce a sound Conversation 2. A second Word which I will touch upon is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may Adorn The adorning commanded is not by painting Religion or adding any Artificial Colour to the Face of it 't is not by superinducing any varnish above its natural Complexion for Religion needs none of our over-officious Skill to deck and trim it up after the newest Mode or to recommend it to the wantoâ—… Affections of Men with a meretricious dâ—…s for Gold needs no Gilding but the way of Adorning here enjoynd is by rubbiâ—… 〈◊〉 the Rust wiping off the Dust washing oâ—… the Dirt which by the injury of Time it has contracted or by the reproach of Enemies it has suffered that we restore it to its primitive Lustre its original Simplicity by walking up to the Commands answering the Demands living up to its Ends and expressing the true Native real Glory of it in a suitable Conversation From the words thus opened and cleared I recommend to you this Doctrine It ought to be the conscientious Care of all that do profess the Gospel of Christ to adorn the Doctrine of that Gospel which they profess in all things The Apostle lays so